Convertible hat

ABSTRACT

A convertible hat is disclosed. The convertible hat includes a main portion of the hat capable of covering at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s head, a brim portion that extends at least partially around the main portion of the hat, and a shield portion that is attached to at least one of the hat or the brim. The shield potion is capable of being stored in a compartment located in the hat main portion or in the brim of the hat.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/548,657 filed Feb. 27, 2004, which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hats. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a convertible hat that enables a wearer toadjust a portion of the hat that covers a portion of the wearer's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many applications, it is desirable to wear a hat that at leastpartially covers the wearer's head. The hat may be used for a variety ofpurposes such as providing warmth or protection.

It is also desirable to cover at least a portion of the wearer's headusing a shield that covers a portion of the wearer's head. For example,when hunting it is often desirable to cover a significant portion of thewearer's head such as the wearer's face to reduce the visibility of theperson's head. This is desired so that the hunter is not easily visible,and therefore detected, by the prey. The shield can also protect thewearer from various insects lighting on the wearer's head and face.

Due to these concerns, a number of hat designs incorporating a shieldhave been suggested. Examples of such designs include U.S. Pat. Nos.1,686,258 to Schlesinger; 2,275,693 to Soboroff; 2,462,258 toDannenberg; 2,897,510 to Forbes-Robinson; 3,016,545 to Donahue;4,593,417 to Brown, Jr. et al.; 5,694,648 to Nucifora; 5,996,124 to Asp,Jr; and 6,260,204 to Morrissey.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,545 to Donahue describes a hat with a brim and anopaque hood zippered to the edge of the brim. The hood can be stored ina compartment in the crown of the cap. The hood must be detached inorder to be stored in the crown of the cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,648 to Nucifora describes a hat with protectivecoverings including a facial mask made of gauze or similar material thatis attached to the hat. The facial mask or other protective coveringsmust be first removed from the hat before they can be stored in acompartment in the hat. Various other of the above-identified patentsdescribe hats with protective coverings. Often, to store the coverings,the coverings were folded and stored on the crown of the hat creatingsome bulk on the hat. Alternatively, to store the coverings, thecoverings required being detached from the hat and then stored in acompartment on the hat. A detachable covering risks the possibility ofbecoming separated from the hat and lost.

Although hats with protective coverings that can be stored on the hatare known, there is a need for a covering that can remain attached tothe hat, and yet be stored in the hat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a convertible hat that includes a main section,a brim section and a shield section. The convertible hat is movablebetween a storage configuration where the shield section is stored inthe main section or brim section and a use configuration where theshield section extends from the main section or brim section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a convertible hat in a firstconfiguration.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the convertible hat of FIG. 1 in a secondconfiguration.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the convertiblehat in a first configuration.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the convertible hat of FIG. 3 in a secondconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the convertible hat in afirst configuration.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the convertible hat of FIG. 5 in a secondconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a convertible hat, as illustratedat 10 in FIGS. 1-2. The convertible hat 10 generally includes a mainsection 20, a brim section 22 and a shield section 24.

The convertible hat 10 is convertible between a first configuration(FIG. 1) where the shield section 24 extends from at least one of themain section 20 or the brim section 22 to a second configuration (FIG.2) where the shield section 24 is stored in at least one of the mainsection 20 or the brim section 22.

The main section 20 preferably covers at least a portion of the wearer'shead and may be in the form of a knit cap, a baseball cap or other hatsor caps.

The brim section 22 extends at least partially around the main section20 depending on the intended use of the convertible hat 10. For example,the brim section 22 may extend entirely around the main section 20 ormay extend only from the front of the main section 20 such as in abaseball cap.

The brim section 22 preferably includes a top panel 30 and a bottompanel 32 that are both attached to the main section 20. Ends of the toppanel 30 and the bottom panel 32 opposite the main section 20 preferablyinclude a closure device 34 such as a zipper or a hook and hookfastener.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the brimsection 22 may include a single panel that is attached to the mainsection 20 along a first edge and that is removably attachable to themain section 20 along a second edge that is generally opposite the firstedge with a closure device.

In another configuration of the convertible hat, the main sectionincludes an extension panel and an interior panel. Proximate an edge ofthe interior panel and the interior panel a closure device is providedto define substantially enclosed region between the exterior panel andthe interior panel.

The closure device 34 thereby defines a substantially enclosed region 36in which the shield section 24 is preferably stored when in the storageconfiguration. The substantially enclosed region 36 may also be includedin a portion of the main section 20.

The shield section 24 is selected based upon the intended use of theconvertible hat 10. For example, the shield section 24 may extend allaround the convertible hat 10 or it may only extend across the front ofthe convertible hat 10. The shield section 24 preferably has asufficient length to cover the wearer's head and may even extend belowthe wearer's shoulder to facilitate retaining the lower end of theshield section 24 underneath the wearer's coat.

The material from which the shield section 24 is formed is selectedbased upon the intended use of the convertible hat 10. The shieldsection 24 may be a fine or coarse mesh and may include one or moreeyeholes or one or more transparent plastic sections to enhance theability of the wearer to see through the shield section.

The convertible hat 10 thereby enables the shield section 24 to bestored so that it does not interfere with use of the convertible hat 10when in the storage configuration while being easily accessible to shiftto the use configuration.

In another configuration, the convertible hat 110 includes a mainsection 120 and a brim section 122 that extends from the main section120, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4. The main section 120 is preferablyconfigured to substantially cover a top portion of the wearer's head.

The main section 120 includes a first portion 130 and a second portion132 that is removably attached to the first portion 130. The firstportion 130 is a band that extends around the wearer's head to provide aconfiguration that is similar to a typical visor. The second portion 132attaches to the first portion 130 and thereby covers the region of thewearer's head that extends through the first portion 130.

The second portion 132 is preferably removably attached to the firstportion 130 using a removable fastening mechanism 134 such as a zipper,snaps or a hook and loop fastener.

The convertible hat 110 of this embodiment enables the wearer toselectively attach the second portion 132 to the first portion 130. Forexample, the wearer can remove the second portion 132 while stillwearing the first portion 130 to block the sun from the wearer's eyeswithout becoming too warm from the second portion 132 covering thewearer's head.

In this embodiment, the brim section 122, preferably only extends from afront part of the convertible hat 110. However, a person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the concepts of the presentinvention may be utilized with different brim styles.

In still another configuration, the convertible hat 210 includes a mainsection 220 and a brim section 222 that extends from the main section220, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6. The main section 220 is preferablyconfigured to substantially cover a top portion of the wearer's head.

The brim section 222 is preferably removably attached to the mainsection 220 so that the brim section 222 only extends from a front partof the convertible hat 110. However, a person of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the concepts of the present invention may beutilized with different brim styles.

The brim section 222 is preferably removably attached to the mainsection 220 using a removable fastening mechanism 224 such as a zipper,snaps or a hook and loop fastener.

The convertible hat 210 of this embodiment enables the wearer toselectively attach the brim section 222 to the main section 220. Forexample, the wearer can remove the brim section 222 while still wearingthe main section 220 when the wearer wants to cover his/her head butdoes not need to block the sun from the wearer's eyes.

It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as wellas those described in the above applications incorporated by reference,can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various othermodifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.

1. A convertible hat comprising: a main portion capable of covering atleast a portion of a wearer's head; a brim portion extending at leastpartially around the main portion, wherein the brim comprises a toppanel and a bottom panel, wherein the top panel and the bottom paneleach include a closure device that is capable of engaging each other todefine a substantially enclosed region between the top panel and thebottom panel; and a shield portion attached to at least one of the mainportion and the brim portion intermediate the top panel and the bottompanel, wherein the shield portion is capable of being stored in thesubstantially enclosed region.
 2. The convertible hat of claim 1,wherein the closure device is selected from the group consisting of azipper, buttons, snaps, and a hook and loop fastener.
 3. The convertiblehat of claim 1, wherein the shield portion extends around the perimeterof the main portion.
 4. The convertible hat of claim 1, wherein theshield portion is capable of covering all of the wearer's head.
 5. Theconvertible hat of claim 1, wherein the shield portion is made of meshfabric.
 6. The convertible hat of claim 1, wherein the shield portioncomprises at least one eyehole.
 7. The convertible hat of claim 1,wherein the shield portion comprises at least one transparent section.8. The convertible hat of claim 1, wherein the shield portion comprisesa mouth hole.
 9. A convertible hat comprising: a main portion capable ofcovering at least a portion of a wearer's head, wherein the main portioncomprises an interior panel and an exterior panel; a closure device thatis capable of engaging the interior panel and the exterior panel todefine a substantially enclosed region between the interior panel andthe exterior panel; and a shield portion attached to the main portionintermediate the interior panel and the exterior panel, wherein theshield portion is capable of being stored in the substantially enclosedregion.
 10. The convertible hat of claim 9, wherein the closure deviceis selected from the group consisting of a zipper, buttons, snaps, and ahook and loop fastener.
 11. The convertible hat of claim 9, wherein theshield portion extends around the perimeter of the hat.
 12. Theconvertible hat of claim 9, wherein the shield portion is capable ofcovering all of the wearer's head.
 13. The convertible hat of claim 9,wherein the shield portion is made of mesh fabric.
 14. A convertible hatconfigured to substantially cover a top portion of a wearer's head, theconvertible hat comprising: a first section that is capable of extendingaround the wearer's head; and a second section releasably attachable tothe first section and to cover a portion of the wearer's head thatextends through the first portion.
 15. The convertible hat of claim 14,wherein the first section is releasably attached to the second sectionby a releasable fastener.
 16. The convertible hat of claim 14, whereinthe releasable fastener is selected from the group consisting of azipper, snaps, buttons and a hook and loop fastener.